Health centers to receive windfall

Community health centers across the country will receive $851 million in grants that will ultimately increase access to health care for millions of Americans as more are becoming uninsured due to the economic downturn and skyrocketing health costs.

According to a press release issued by the Department of Health and Human Services earlier this week, the money was made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The grants will support the construction, repair and renovation of over 1,500 health center sites nationwide. More than 650 centers will use the funds to purchase new equipment or health information technology systems, and nearly 400 health centers will adopt and expand the use of electronic health records.

First Lady Michelle Obama delivered the announcement Monday at Unity's Upper Cardozo Health Center, one of the centers that stands to benefit from the funds.

Community Health Centers deliver preventive and primary care services at more than 7,500 service delivery sites around the country under the watch of Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration. More than 17 million patients – about 40 percent of whom have no health insurance – receive care regardless of their ability to pay; charges for services are set according to income.

A list of grantees by state is available at http://www.blogger.com/www.hhs.gov/recovery.